National Minimum Wage rates are to rise in October 2010 with the minimum rate for workers aged 21 and over raising to £5.93 an hour. Plus a new minimum wage for apprentices has been introduced for the first time.
Rates will therefore increase as follows:
- £5.93 an hour for workers aged 21 and over
- £4.92 an hour for workers aged 18 to 20
- £3.64 an hour for those older than school-leaving age and younger than 18 (someone is under school-leaving age until the end of summer term of the school year in which they turn 16).
These new rates also confirm the top rate of minimum wage will now apply to 21 year olds, where previously the qualifying age was 22.
New apprentice rate
The new rates also include, for the first time, a minimum wage for apprentices which has been fixed at £2.50 an hour.
This new rate will apply to all apprentices under 19 and for apprentices aged 19 and over who are in their first year of their apprenticeship.
The new coalition Government has not indicated any proposed changes to the National Apprenticeship Scheme so employers are able to take advantage of the provisions within the scheme as with the previous Labour Government.
The minimum wage of £2.50 per hour certainly gives employers plenty of scope to maximise the advantage of apprentice workers within their organisation.
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Find out more about who is entitled to the National Minimum Wage.
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